Means for supporting and reinforcing fluorescent lamp sockets



Jan. 26, 1943. E GILES m 2,309,182

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND REINFORCING FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKETS Filed Jan. 6, 1941 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND REINFORC- ING FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKETS Everett J. Giles and Lee R. Nummer, Alma, Mich., assignors to Michigan Fluorescent Fixture Company, St. Louis, Mich.

Application January 6, 1941, Serial No. 373,276

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fluorescent lamp fixtures and more particularly to a means provided on the fixture for rigidly backing and reinforcing the lamp sockets when they are mounted in position.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to punch the fixture so as to provide an opening of proper size to receive the depending leg of a lamp holder and form depending clips which reinforce the holder leg against end play or movement when the lamp is inserted or removed from the holders.

A further object resides in the provision of a support formed of light gauge sheet metal in which the reinforcing clips are punched, thus eliminating the conventional reinforcing strip usually provided beneath the fixture face.

Our invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more readily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of our invention. For this purpose we have shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. We shall now describe the form in detail which illustrates the general principle of our invention, but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of our invention is best described by our appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a fluorescent fixture showing a part broken away to illustrate the construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view; and,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified construction.

In the manufacture of fixtures of the nature described, it is customary and economical to use a very light gauge material and to mount the lamp holders thereon as a unit. Fluorescent lamps are usually of considerable length and in many instances the insertion or removal of the lamp tube bends the lamp holders or material to which the holders are mounted. This results i sloppy connections, creates undue strains on the connecting pins, and ofttimes cracks the lamp holders; and these disadvantages we have overcome by perfecting a design having a depending leg which provides a sturdy, solid backing for the lamp holders which eliminates the usual reinforcing strip while still permitting the use of light gauge material, and this design further reflects considerable economy in manufacture and rigidity in mounting.

In the drawing selected for disclosing our invention, the fixture is indicated by the number 8. This is preferably formed of light gauge sheet material cut to any desired shape, and sockets 9 are mounted on this fixture and in a manner to be presently described.

In the instant design we have shown a rim section I0 surrounding the main body 8 of the fixture, this rim reinforcing the structure and presenting a finished effect. Clips I l are punched in the main body of the fixture, and are bent at substantially right angles thereto to form openings l2 of predetermined size and shape therein, and as clearly shoWn in Fig. 1 of the drawing, said openings accommodating the depending leg 13 of the T-shaped lamp holders 9 with the clip ll forming a sturdy backing and reinforcing for said leg when it is placed in position. Wires M are connected to the lamp holders 9 in the conventional manner.

The ends of the lamp tube L are mounted in the leg l3 of the lamp holders 9 and are provided with contact pins (not shown) as usual, and a switch (not shown) is provided for controlling the energization of the light tube.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a slightly different construction in which a rib I5 is formed in the clip section II when bent, the rib extending beyond the bending point of the clip I l into the main body of the material, thu further reinforcing the clip structure.

This construction insures firm, rigid mounting, the lamp tube is at all times parallel to the base of the fixture; and the cost of production is very materially reduced, as the lamp holders can be quickly and easily hung in the fixture as a unit, requiring but one screw which is provided with the holder, and the reinforcing strips herein referred to are eliminated.

It will, of course, be obviou that the clip may be welded to the face of the fixture if desired, although this entails additional labor which in reality is unnecessary.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that we have perfected a very simple, practical, and economical holder mounting and backing for fluorescent light fixtures.

What we claim is:

A mounting for fluorescent lamp sockets having a dependin leg comprising a supporting member having an opening punched therein and of predetermined size and shape to accommodate the leg of the lamp socket with the punched area bent at right angles to the supporting member to bear against and form a backing and reinforcement against endwise movement of the socket leg, and a rib formed in said punched section and bridging the angle formed by the bent section and the main body of the support.

EVERETT J. GILES. LEE R. NUMMER. 

